True Honor and Committment

Matthew 22: 37 – 38

Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment.”

I think sometimes, this verse can get lost in the minds of many Christians.

We’re supposed to honor Jesus, in everything we do or say.

I have to wonder sometimes, if I truly honor God, in everything I say and do?

That seems like such a tall task.

By my own power, this is impossible—but by the power of the Holy Spirit, I can accomplish this.

I can remain committed to my God—I can be totally devoted to my wife.

I guess commitment, is also a true mark of friendship. Commitment to other people, is evidence of my love for them.

When we are committed to following God—when we love Jesus with all of our heart, soul and mind, we will be led to discover God’s will for our lives.

Have you discovered God’s will for your life yet?

Satisfaction and true fulfillment comes through commitment.

When we are committed to the mandates of God, it’s then we discover the reason that God created us in the first place.

I sure hope that at the end of my life, people will say I was committed.

To my wife—to my brothers and my children—to my friends—but especially to my God…

Be Above Average!

Psalm 31: 23

The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.

Did you know that the people who are fully committed to God, He’s then committed to watch out for them, and care for them?

What example is there, of a totally faithful and committed follower of God?

How about Peter, who was crucified upside down.

Talk about commitment!

So what does it mean, to be totally committed to the work of God?

How about these for starters….

·         They possess the evident power of the Holy Spirit

·         There are no grounds for accusation

·         There is no evidence of corruption

·         They live fully according to God’s Word

·         They pray continually despite the circumstances

·         They affect others, by their commitment

So how does the average believer, stack up to these characteristics?

Just be sure of this—they are not average.

Hebrews 3: 14 (NKJV)

For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold to the beginning of our confidence, and remain steadfast to the end…

Do you have a correct point of view?

Psalm 25: 10

All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

 

Is it possible to have faith in Christ, without ever attending church?

62% of all American believers seem to think so.

 

This group of people in the 62% category, say they have made a personal commitment to follow Christ, yet they haven’t attended church in over 8 months.

For some reason, that just does not add up, and it also does not seem to make a whole lot of sense to me.

 

The Barna Research group, suggests that what people in the church really want, is this…

“Make Christianity accessible and practical, but don’t expect any consistent participation.”

 

That does not sound like the Gospel I was raised on.

The more I read the Bible, the more I know it says, it has nothing to do with the way I feel, or what I want.

 

Walking with Jesus still takes commitment.

Walking with Jesus has never had anything to do, with making us feel good.

 

I’m certain that what Jesus wanted to assert, is that following Him would require our very lives.

So many people still haven’t connected with that theory.

 

A new church plant, has somewhere around a 1 to 3 ratio of commitments to Christ, per church member.

By the time that same church is 10 years old, that ratio drops to, 1 to 75.

 

Does the modern American church have some issues?

I guess that depends upon your point of view… 

Committment!

Psalm 37: 5

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this…

 

I wonder how hard it is, to find committed people in the church anymore?

Did you know that in the 1990’s, it was believed that 5.6 billion people attended church services of any kind throughout the year.

Yet attendance in all professional sports combined annually, was only about 103 million.

 

Here’s the kicker though…

Contributions to the church totaled $56.7 billion (About $10.00 per person)—where the professional sports teams collected $8 billion. (About $80.00 per person)

 

We certainly don’t see much commitment in marriages anymore.

So it begs the question, do we truly find much commitment these days?

 

27% of all people who leave churches currently, do so, because they feel like they need a change in scenery.

That’s the number one reason.

They simply got disinterested in the church they were attending.

 

If not properly dealt with, church statisticians suggest, that what moved people to new sceneries, will eventually lead them to leaving multiple churches, repetitive times.

What changes that outlook? When people become committed to God’s work, right where they are.

 

Are you committed to God’s work, where you attend church?

Praise God for the committed souls, who stay the course, as opposed to looking for different scenery…

Identity

Colossians 1: 18

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

The supreme ruler of the church, is Jesus Christ.

You’d be surprised these days, where that just is not true.

The church of Jesus Christ, traces its roots of origin, to Acts chapter 2—and not Rome.

Where your home church roots have been established, tells a lot about whether your church, is a New Testament church.

Organizationally, if your home church is built on the “Rock”, Jesus Christ, then you have firm bedrock.

So it begs the question… “Am I a member of Christ’s church—or… “Am I simply a member of a church?”

The Early New Testament, added to their number, those who were being saved, every day.

Is that the mark of the modern NT church? Most modern Biblical scholars, would honestly say no.

When people become victims of abductions, most news agencies give repeated physical descriptions of the person.

Before the end of the telecast, most people know precisely what the missing person looks like.

Has the modern NT church been taken captive?

Before we can answer that, we need to go back to the physical description of the NT church.

We find that information, in Acts chapter 2.

So, what about your church?

Maybe the NT church you’re attending, needs just a little work with its identity.

Maybe the modern NT church, needs to invite Jesus to be a part of it…

Be a Risk Taker!

Hebrews 10: 24

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

 

Most Christians today, feel that is essential that they share their faith—but very few ever do.

It is believed that near 70% of all conservative, evangelical, born again believers, ever share their faith in their lifetime.

50% of these people, have never even invited someone to come to church with them.

 

These devotionals are written every day, to spur people on, not to bring condemnation.

One cannot argue with the truth—and no—I do not pull these numbers from a hat.

 

I am amazed that God could save someone like me—but He did—and I’m willing to tell the world about it, if anyone was willing to listen.

When someone from the Early NT church said they believed in Jesus—it could easily cost them their life.

 

People lost income, because of taking a stand for Christ.

People lost social status because of taking a stand for Jesus.

People were outcasts from within their own families—for taking a stand for Jesus.

And yes people lost their heads, (literally), for engaging in discipleship.

 

Let’s face it—most American believers, never lose anything for their faith, because most don’t extend themselves in the way of taking a risk.

The early church were risk takers.

 

Are you a risk taker?

You have what it takes, but most don’t think so.

 

You have Jesus—what more could you ever want, to convince the everyday skeptic?

Commitment!!

Acts 2: 46

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…

 

Statistically, only about 13.5% of Americans attend church every week.

Maybe the people in the Early New Testament church, just did not have anything better to do?

 

This text says, they met together every day.

I wonder if things in our world would change for the better, if we met to worship God, every day?

What a radical point of view.

 

Almost every mainline denomination, has reported consistent declines in church attendance over the last 30 years.

It’s believed today, that most people will not secure membership in any given church, because that usually means commitment.

No fooling?

 

Maybe when there’s commitment in the church again, we’ll actually see churches attendance flourish?

Maybe it will be a day, when we see the return of… “glad and sincere hearts”.

 

The Barna research group says, that the modern day American church, has… “created a consumer church culture.”

The only thing the Early New Testament church seemed to consume, was more of the power of God.

 

Let’s not forget what Jesus told Peter, at Caesarea Philippi, about the church…

“I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Grass roots!

Act 2: 42

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

 

As we explore the early New Testament church, compared to the New Testament church of today, you’ll see some striking differences.

The modern New Testament church today, is a far cry, from what the early church used to be.

 

Most Early churches were small in nature.

How do we know that? Most people met together and worshipped in homes.

 

Did you know, that 80% of all churches in the United States, are not Mega churches?

Most churches today in this country, are about 60 people in attendance, or even less.

 

A Mega church is defined, as a church with 2,000 or more in attendance each Sunday, in multiple services.

It is suggested, that most people attend larger or Mega churches today, because the music is usually very high quality.

 

Music does not appear to define the early church.

It looks like what was most important, was the apostles’ teaching—fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer.

 

Maybe it would be a good idea, to return to the grass roots, of what made the early church so powerful in nature…

The Truth of the matter!

Deuteronomy 8: 18

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

 

Why should this verse be of any surprise to any of us.

God lives within us, and has developed certain skill sets in each person, to be uniquely, creative in the market place.

 

I met a friend from high school the other day, and he’s a multi millionaire, but has never forgotten where he came from.

I asked him… “Joe, what’s the secret to your success?”, and he replied… “Good decisions!”

 

God is the One who helps us with making smart choices, especially when we’re in the habit of asking Him.

When using our God given talents, there’s no telling what we can do.

 

How are you using your God given talents, to help other people?

How are you using your God given talents, to bring honor and glory to God?

 

God does not give us actual wealth—He gives us the power that produces the ability to garner wealth.

There’s a big difference.

 

Some people wait at home, for God to drop something in their lap—talk about air mail!

It almost never works that way.

 

God gives us the power to succeed—but we have to have the mind set to receive it.

God wants us to ask Him for help—then He wants us to develop a plan—and then He wants us to work at it.

 

Jesus said in John 14: 6… “I am the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE”

Without the way there is no going—without the truth there is no knowing—and without the life.....well, there’s just no living…

What are you holding on to?

John 6: 9 – 10

"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people sit down."

 

This story is one of the most recognizable accounts in the Bible, but we often miss its significance.

Here was a boy who came to church one day, prepared.

 

I wonder what might have happened, had this young man been unwilling to share his afternoon lunch?

We might have missed out on one of the greatest miracles ever recorded in the Gospels.

 

We also know that it’s recorded, that Jesus repeated this event just a few days later—using someone else’s bagged lunch.

Funny things is, Jesus overheard the disciples chatting about this event to themselves, and they wanted to know who brought all that bread and fish.

 

They missed the power, and so do we sometimes, when we’re tight fisted with the things Jesus could use to display His power.

What are you holding onto, that Jesus could use?

 

If I’m allowed to paraphrase just a bit, I wonder if the dialog between Jesus and His followers could’ve been something like this;

“Don t you get who I am?” – “Don’t you understand the abundant generosity of God?” – Don’t you understand that I’ll take care of all of your needs?”

 

The key to the story, was that this young boy was willing to surrender his meager gifts to Jesus.

We would be amazed at what God can do in and through us, when we bring our meager gifts to Him.

 

Have you surrendered your meagerness to Jesus, yet?

We might be overwhelmed at the miracles Jesus could render, if we just opened up our hands, and our heart

First Priority!

Mark 14: 9

“I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

 

Do you know what extravagant worship looks like?

It looks like this—that we give everything we have, with no regard to cost, that in turn richly blesses the Lord.

 

With some of the statistics I shared last week, that kind of worship is not seen very often in the church anymore.

Jesus said that this woman’s testimony, would be shared in her memory—and so it is today.

 

Mary knew of no other way to repay Jesus, for the forgiveness of her sins.

All she had to give—she rendered to the Lord Jesus.

A bottle of perfume, that was worth a full years wages.

 

Jesus should always be our first priority, when we come before Him in worship.

Without Him, we have nothing and are nothing.

 

How I long to worship Jesus, just as Mary did—but something always seems to get in the way.

Maybe it’s my pride…

 

“Father God…Forgive us for not giving you our whole hearts and our whole lives.  Our intentions sometimes seem good, but our lives and our actions often fail our intentions.  

You are our all in all.  Help us to worship You more fully and completely, and help us to realize what it really meant to give Your life for us.  

Take our lives and sacrifices, to be a sweet fragrance to You.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.”

Temple Treasury

Mark 12: 43 – 44

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

What kind of relationship do you want with Jesus?

Are we looking for a comfortable relationship with the Christ of God—that just gives us warm fuzzies?

This precious lady, put everything she had to live on, into  God’s treasury.

What was she doing? She was loving God with every bit of her being—and fulfilling Luke 10: 27.

Do we do this?

Or do some of us, spend more money at McDonald’s or at Dollar General, than we put into the treasury of God?

My prayer, is that everyone within the receipt of this daily devotional, has the heart of this poor widow woman.

Many of you do.

Jesus calls over His disciples, and He uses this lady as an object lesson.

I often wonder, if God could ever use me, for a simple object lesson of faithfulness?

The Temple treasury, was used as a covenant to God, to provide for the least of these.

There was a time in U.S. history, when we didn’t have to rely on the government, to help the weak.

Oh, how times have changed… 

Sacrifice

I Timothy 6: 10

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s.

 

Do you know people who have lots of money, but it seems they still haven’t found happiness?

Folks who are protective of their money, in many cases, have wandered from the faith.

 

I love the old bumper sticker that says… “If you love Jesus—HONK!”

But there’s another good bumper sticker that says… “TITHE If you love Jesus—any fool can honk”

 

The purpose of our walk of faith, is to love God.

The Bible says that we should love God with all of our heart soul, mind and strength.

I think that also means with our wallets and purses.

 

We have been created to worship and love God.

We have not been created, to love what’s at the bottom of our bank statement.

 

When we understand all that we have been given to us by God—the only response there is, is sacrifice.

God so honors that, and He actually saves us from a world filled with grief when we do sacrifice.

 

Why people keep needlessly piercing themselves, is really beyond my ability to reason.

 

So if we miss a Sunday or two or three or four, does our deep sense of love for God, prompt us to write a check for all time that we missed?

That would be true love…

Do you know God?

Isaiah 43: 10

"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.

Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”

The Barna research group suggests, that most people don’t tithe, because they don’t really know God or His Word.

People don’t really know what God has to say about earning money—saving money—spending money, or investing money.

Anything we need to understand about these financial areas, are all found in the Bible.

Currently, there is a failure in the church, to teach it’s people the truth about giving.

Some people have formed opinions, from churches they used to attend, that did not teach on the principal of stewardship.

Do you know God?

If we do, then we’ll know what He says about how to use our money.

One small group in a church in Clearview Tennessee, decided to test God in this area.

In one year, this small group took God to task, and ended up paying off $150,000.00 of their local churches debt.

There are some conspiracy theories in the flock, that suggest some of the churches money, goes to pay for the Pastor’s retirement home in Aruba.

Make no mistake about that—I have never been to Aruba—and don’t plan on going there anytime soon.

Folks will forever look for excuses, not to do what God has called us to do.

It’s most likely because, we might not know Him as well as we should…

To Tithe or not to Tithe..That is the question!

Proverbs 14: 8

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.

I think people in the church, would be a lot better off, if we spent more time watching the older, wiser people, in the flock.

In the 1990’s, people over 65 years of age, accounted for over 70% of all giving in the church.

Today, when a senior member of the church dies, it normally takes as many as 8 – 10 people under the age of 35, to account for their overall contribution and production.

All signs suggest, that maybe our older members, were not so senile after all.

Churches who actually teach on tithing and Biblical giving, report that giving in the church, increases at an average of 62% over other churches.

It’s also reported that churches who are not afraid of teaching about Biblical giving, have members who actually reduce their debt load by as much as $20,000.00 in the first year.

Most churches don’t teach this stuff, because it’s not popular with the its members.

Yet that should not surprise us.

When we approach our giving to God, with a consumer like mentality, it almost never works out very well for that person.

When we begin to rely on ourselves, and selfishness takes over, God allows those people to have their way, until they come back begging.

What’s your testimony of joy, regarding tithing?

If you don’t tithe, then you can’t possibly have a testimony of joy, like someone who does tithe.

Stewardship of God’s property, is so much a part of our overall spiritual growth.

Some people just haven’t figured that out as of yet…

Give!

Luke 6: 38

“Give, and it will be given to you.”

 

So I have to wonder, that if one doesn’t give anything, it is possible, that nothing then, will be given to them?

That seems to make sense, but the Bible says that God gives rain to the righteous and the unrighteous.

 

Actually, only 3% of all confessed Christians even tithe. That’s down 8% from 2008.

It’s also suggested that 50% of all church members, give no measurable income.

 

Most church attendees, would hold fast to the Biblical statement, that says… “it’s better to give than to receive.”

Well at least 50% of all Christians believe that to a degree.

 

Those who don’t give, are like people who grab 3 shopping carts at Walmart—fill them to the full—and then leave without paying.

They want all the benefits of “church”, but don’t want it to cost them anything.

 

It actually cost our local church, over $1,000.00, just to have our snow plowed in December 2013.

Let’s be sure of this, there’s no free lunch these days—not even in the church.

 

People who don’t give, may not even notice the things that aren’t given to them, while they live here on earth.

What a surprise though, when the eternal, Heavenly ledger suggests, they’ve been ripping God off all along.

 

But thanks be to God for His great mercy, because there’s still time to make, Heavenly portfolio changes